Covering for railway bridges and trestles.



G. B. MOSELEY.

COVERING FOR RAILWAY BRIDGES AND TRESTIFES.

APPLICATIQN FILED JUNE 23.1915.

1,171,062. Patented Feb. 8,1916.

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Z/ Mare/6y THE COLUMBIA PLAND RAPH :;O., WASHINGTON, 0. C

G. B, MOSELEY.

COVERING FOR RAILWAY BRIDGES AND TRE STLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28. 1915.

1,171,062. Patented Feb. 8,1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLAgJouRAPH C0,, WASHINGTON, n. c.

nnrran em cnonen' B. MOSELEY, 0F cAivrnniv, ARKANSAS;

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Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented was, 1916.

Application filed June 28, 1915. Serial No. 36,875.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. Mosnnnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camden, in the-county of Ouachita and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coverings for Railroad Bridges and Trestles, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. Y

This invention relates to coverings for railroad bridges and trestles, and has for its principal object the production of a simple and efficient means for protecting the bridge or trestle upon which the device is mounted from the weather thereby preventing the same from rotting, and thus prolonging the life of the same, and also protecting the bridge or trestle from fire occasioned by the dropping of hot cinders and the like thereon as the train passes thereover. 7

Another object of this invention is the production of a covering for railroad bridges and trestles which is formed of sheet metal so constructed as to conform infcontour; to the upper surfaces of the trestle, thereby covering the trestle or bridge and protecting the same from water and fire.

Another object of this invention the production of a covering for railroad bridges and trestles which is formed from sheet metal, being provided with a plurality of channel portions for directing the water carried thereby to portions of the covering from which it is discharged, this covering being bent so as to fit snugly upon the upper portions of the trestle for protecting the same.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a detailed perspective view of the covering illustrating the manner in which the same is used in connection with a railroad bridge or trestle. Fig. 2 is a central longi tudinal sectionthrough the covering mounted upon a bridgeor trestle. Fig. 3 is -a transverse section through the covering illustrating the same in use. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional-view through a' portion of the cover illustrating how the same fits aboutthe fish plates of the rail; Fig. is a detailed perspective-view ofa certain trough used in connection with this invention. Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of one of the plates used in connection with this invention. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the central sheet of the covering. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of one of the sidesheets of the covering. a

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals it will be seen that 1 designates the central sheet of the covering which fits between the rails 2. These rails 2 are mounted in the usual manner upon the ties 3 having the side guards these ties being mounted upon the longitudinal bea1ns5 of the'body portion of the trestle 6. The central sheet 1 is elongated, and is bowed longitudinally so as to have its side edges carried in a plane above the plane of the central portion thereof. These side edges 7 fit under the tread of the rails 2, bearing against the web of the rails as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The notched portions 8 are formed atspacedintervals along the side edges 7 of the centralfsheet 1, so as to allow this sheet'to fit snugly under the tread 2 of the rails, while the notches 8 will allow suificient space for the accommodation of the fish plates 2 as shown in Fig. a. -'At' each end of the sheet 1 there is formed a semi-circular notched portion 9 which :is adapted to constitute in connection with the ends adjacent the center sheet 1 an opening 10, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, since the central longitudinal portion of the sheet 1 is lower than the side portions thereof, the water will be caught by this sheet and will run along this central portion so as to be discharged through the openings 10 formed atspaced intervals along the covering. I Upon the side portion of the trestle or bridge there is carried a side sheet so that two side sheets are used in'connectionwith the central sheet. Each side sheet 11 com prises an longated body portion 12 having the upwardly extending wall 13 formed at one side thereof, thereby providing a gutter 14. This sidewall 13 is bent over, as shown at 15,-.and terminates in the depend ing. sidewall 16; whereby the-bentpo-rtion -15 and walls13 and 16 will constitutev a substantially inverted U-shaped portion which will fit over the side guards 4; of the trestle or bridge, while the depending'side walls 16 will extend to a pointadjacent the lower portions of the ties '3 of the bridge or trestle. The free edge of the body 12 is in a plane above the plane of the gutter 1 1, and rests beneath the tread 2 of the rails so as to bear upon the web thereof. This body 12 is also provided with an elongated notched portion 17 which will accommodate th fish plates of the rails, as shown in Fig. 4. When this side sheet is positioned upon the trestle or bridge the body 12 will bear upon the ties so as to allow the edge 12 thereof to rest against the web of the rail under the tread thereof. The walls and bent portion which constitute side protectors of the side sheets will t over the guard and protect this guard, as well as the outer portions of the ties. Retaining spikes 18 may then be driven through the upper portions of the bent por tion 1.5 and the side sheets so as to cause the spikes to be driven into the guards 1 for fixedly retaining the side sheets in their correct positions upon the trestle or bridge in connection with which the covering is used. As the water is caught by the body 12 it will be directed into the gutter 1 1 and will pass therealong to be discharged through the openings 19 formed at the end portions of the side sheets 11 by the registering of the notched portions 20 of the two side sheets 11.

A U-shaped trough 21 is formed from a blank, and carried upon the longitudinal beams 5 of the trestle body 6 at spaced intervals so that the trough will be carried beneath the abutting ends of the covering, as-clearly shown in Fig. 2. Tacks 22 will be passed through the apertures 23 formed in the lower-portions of the trough 21 for fixedly retaining the trough in its correct position, so as to be in alinement with the openings 10 and 19 formed by the registration of the notches 9 and 20. As the water is passed from the sheets 1 and 11 through the openings 10 and 19 into the trough 21,

it will be directed toward the side portions of the trestle or bridge of the trough. In order to prevent the water passing from the trough to be directed upon the wooden structure of the trestle or bridge, there is provided a plurality of plates 24 having the flanges 25 thereof provided with apertures 26 through which the securing spikes 27 may be passed for fixedly retaining the plates in position. It will be seen that these flanges 25 are formed upon the plates 24 so that while the flanges will fit upon the vertical surface of the longitudinal beams 5, the body portion of the plate will be slanting as shown very clearly in Fig. 3, whereby the water discharged thereon from the end portions of the trough 21 will run down the body portions 24 of the plates to be thrown clear of the side portions of the trestle or bridge.

When it is desired to apply this device to a bridge, it will be seen that the central sheet may be positioned so as to allow its side edges 7 to rest upon the treads of the rails 2. By applying pressure to the central portions of the sheet 1, the side portions thereof will spring slightly so as to pass by the side portions of the treads, but immediately upon the passing of the side edges 7 below the lower portions of the tread they will spring from their normal positions so as to bear upon the Webs of the rails be neath the treads thereof. Therefore, secondary securing means are not needed, inasmuch as the covering will be positively retained in position by means of its res siliency. The side sheets are then positioned so as to allow their edges 12 to rest beneath the treads of the rails while their outer protecting portions, formed so as to constitute a U-shaped structure fitting over the side guards of the trestle will be passed over this portion of the trestle or bridge.

The spikes 18 may then be passed through the Ufshaped side portions of the side sheets and directed into engagement with the trestle for fixedly retaining the side sheets. The troughs may then be positioned beneath the openings 10 and 19 after which the plates 24 may be secured in alinement with the end portions of the troughs, at which time the covering is complete. By constructing a device as above set forth it will be seen that the rain or melting snow is prevented from running over the wooden structure of the trestle or bridge, thereby rotting the same very quickly. This water will be directed by the sheets so as to be discharged as hereinbefore set forth. Furthermore the burning of trestles or bridges, which very frequently occurs by the dropping of cinders or red hot coals upon the bridge or trestle as the train passes thereover is pre vented, since the central or side sheets will catch the cinders or coals and prevent the trestle or bridge from burning.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple and efficient covering has been provided for railroad trestles or bridges,'which is very simple in construction and eflicient in operation, thereby making the use of the cover very desirable owing to its durability and inexpensiveness, and which is so constructed as to prolong the life of the trestle or bridge indefinitely.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a covering of the class described, the combination of a central sheet and side sheets, said central sheet being adapted to fit between two rails, said side sheets being adapted to engage the outer portions of the rails and fit over the side portions of a trestle or bridge, whereby the sheets will protect a trestle or bridge from being rotted by Water or burned by the dropping of hot coals thereon as a train passes thereover.

overhang the side portions of the trestle or bridge for retaining said sheets in position, said sheets being provided with water guide portions whereby the water collected by the sheets may be directed to a desired position to be discharged, and said sheets being adapted to prolong the life of a trestle or bridge by preventing the water from rotting the trestle or bridge and preventing the trestle or bridge from being consumed by fire.

3. In a covering of the class described, the combination of a central. sheet, said central sheet being elongated and being bowed longitudinally so as to allow the central portion to be in a plane below the side edges thereof, said side edges being adapted to be sprung beneath the tread of two rails whereby the sheet will be retained in position, and side sheets being carried adjacent said central sheet so as to engage the outer portions of the rails which hold said central sheet, said sheets being adapted to be carried upon a trestle or bridge whereby the sheets will progect the trestle or bridge from water or from 4:. In a covering of the class described, the combination of a central sheet, said central sheet comprising an elongated body being bowed so as to have its side edges positioned in a plane above the central portion thereof, said side edges provided with elongated notched portions, said side edges being adapted to be sprung beneath the treads of a plurality of rails whereby the central sheet will be held in its correct position, said notched portions providing sufficient space to accommodatethe fish plates of a plurality of rails, said central plate provided with notches in its end portions whereby the water caught by the plate will be directed to its lower central portion so as to pass therealong to be discharged through said notched portions, and side protector plates carried adjacent said central plate so as to engage the rails holding said central plate whereby said plates will fit upon the upper portions of a trestle or bridge for protecting the same from the weather'or preventing the burning thereof by the dropping of hot coals thereon. 5. In a covering of the class described, the combination of a central sheet, said central sheet being adapted to be carried between a plurality of rails, side sheets carried adjacent the central sheet, each of said side sheets comprising an elongated body having an edge fitting under the tread of a rail, a substantially U-shaped inverted portion formed upon the outer portions of the body of the side sheets, said U-shaped inverted portion being adapted to fit over the side guard of a trestle or bridge, said side sheets provided with a gutter adjacent the junction of said body and U-shaped inverted portion whereby the water caught by said side sheets will pass along said gutter so as to be discharged from the end portions thereof.

6. In a covering of the class described, the combination of a central sheet, side sheets, said central sheet being adapted to fit between a plurality of rails, said side sheets being adapted to engage the side portions of the rails and overhang the side portions of a bridge or trestle whereby the said sheets will constitute a'protector for a bridge or trestle for preventing water from rotting the bridge or trestle, as well as protecting the bridge or trestle from fire caused by the dropping of hot coals thereon, said sheets provided with notches at their end portions whereby when the sheets are in position the abutting ends of the adjacent sheets will cause the notches to form openings, troughs carried beneath said openings by a bridge or trestle whereby the water caught by the sheets will be directed through said openings into said troughs, and plates at the end portions of the troughs being adapted to be carried by a bridge or trestle whereby the water from the troughs will be discharged therefrom upon said plates so as to be discharged clear of the side portions of the bridge or trestle. I In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. I

GEORGE B. MOSELEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

